Scots often note the Union of the Crowns in 1707 as the date Scotland’s independent status ended. But that is not the union that currently exists. The Treaty of Union was amended to absorb all Ireland, by the Act of Union in 1800. This new UK was amended again in 1925 when Ireland was partitioned in 1925. The potential complications of this new, post-1707 UK in relation to Scottish secession are unknown.

2006-08-11
SNP Leader Alex Salmond has today called for Scotland to join northern Europe's arc of prosperity, with Ireland to the west, Iceland to the north and Norway to the east all small independent countries in the top six richest nations in the world. In comparison, the UK is 14th and devolved Scotland 18th ­ with similar, oil rich Norway over £12,000 per person better off.

Speaking in Edinburgh today Mr Salmond committed an SNP government to deliver a range of pro-enterprise policies designed to support Scotland's wealth creators and bring greater prosperity across the nation. Mr Salmond said that with an SNP government elected in May next year and a vote for independence within the first term of that government, Scotland would be on track to raise wealth per head by £4000 a year within 10 years, compared to continuing in the UK.

(Notice how they're conveniently ignoring this rather difficult question, cos far from it being about 'culture and identity', it's about MONEY)

Tandemjeremy
In the end its a philosophical point - do you want self determination as a nation or do you want to remain a junior part of a union. To those wedded tot eh idea of independence the economic arguement is irrelevant. Would you stay in a joyless marriage because you enjoyed the lifestyle?

Scots often note the Union of the Crowns in 1707 as the date Scotland’s independent status ended. But that is not the union that currently exists. The Treaty of Union was amended to absorb all Ireland, by the Act of Union in 1800. This new UK was amended again in 1925 when Ireland was partitioned in 1925. The potential complications of this new, post-1707 UK in relation to Scottish secession are unknown.

Not sure I follow. The OP asked when Ireland came along and unite with England, Wales and Scotland and the relevant date for that is 1800 (act of Union). You are referring to the boundary commission and partition following the Civil War. That does not answer when the countries were joined (unless you're referring to the technical fact that NI opted out of the free state?)

It would have been a very different situation. The two nominally Scottish banks would have been different entities after independence - would their exposure have been the same? Moot point anyway. Unlikely would have had the stupid and counterproductive "austerity" cuts so would probably have been better off

However the SNP have said what the legal opinion was which is what I had read and quote some of above. I didn't say that (both sucessor parts would have to reapply) was a part of it - its just obvious - If Scotland is a successor state and has to rejoin then so would England / Wales / Northern Ireland rump as both entities would be equivalent surely?

I doubt Scotland is voting for independence when devolution max is going to be on the ticket too. Tax raising powers and everything decided in Scotland bar foreign and defence policy. I'd vote for that.......be tough for Labour to form a government in Westminster after that but that's a different thread.

Devo Max will never work and Alex Salmond knows this. He has successfully manoeuvred the Labour party into supporting something that gives him 80% of what he wants, rather than supporting the status quo. Quite apart from Trident, a Federal UK would have been the first casualty of the Iraq war.